Economic and Environmental Aspects of Agriculture in the EU Countries

The analysis of the economic efficiency of agriculture has been the subject of numerous studies. An economically efficient agricultural sector is not always environmentally efficient. Agriculture is a large emitter of greenhouse gases. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that food production and agriculture are responsible for 21–37% of total global CO2 emissions. Due to the comprehensive assessment of the agricultural efficiency, it is worthwhile to apply to its measurement an integrated approach based on economic, energy and environmental aspects. These aspects were the main reasons for undertaking this research. The purpose of the study was to determine the economic, energy and environmental efficiency of agriculture in the EU Member States in 2019. The environmental analyses relate to the period 1990–2019. A total of 26 member states of the European Union (excluding Malta and Luxembourg) were selected for research. The sources of materials were Eurostat and the European Environmental Agency. This study was based on the Data Envelopment Analysis method, and used the DEA model focused on minimizing inputs. The research also adopts energy productivity and greenhouse gas emission efficiency indicators. The DEA model features the following variables: one effect (value of agricultural production) and four inputs (land, labour, use of fertilizers and use of energy). It was found that seven out of the 26 studied EU countries have efficient agriculture. The efficient agriculture group included the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, Cyprus, the United Kingdom, Italy and Ireland. Based on the DEA method, benchmarks have been defined for countries with inefficient agriculture. On the basis of these benchmarks for inefficient agricultural sectors, it was possible to determine how they could improve efficiency to achieve the same results with fewer inputs. This issue is particularly important in the context of sustainable agricultural development. In the next stage of the research, the analysis of economic and energy efficiency was combined with the analysis of GHG emission efficiency in agriculture. Four groups of countries have been distinguished: eco-efficiency leaders, eco-efficiency followers, environmental slackers, eco-efficiency laggards. The leaders of the classification were the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Portugal.

Polycentric vs monocentric urban structure contribution to national development

The debate about polycentricity and subordinacy has always been a critical topic that planners, economists, and socialists argued about for centuries. The idea of concentricity vs decentralization has affected all life metabolic activities. Urban structure has always been declared to be the key factor that affects life metabolism significantly. However, after the pandemic COVID-19, the planning strategies have changed dramatically. The main purpose is to investigate the most appropriate urbanization approach that achieves the best development results. The research methodology is to define and measure the fabric independency as an approach to estimate its self-sufficiency that enables it to stand in front of the pandemic challenges at different circumstances. The paper uses the fabric diversity index as a sensitive indicator of independency and polycentricity of the urban structure. The main conclusion for this paper is that independent polycentric urban agglomerations that are strongly linked achieve much better development results than subordinate cities depending on the main core city. The data used for the analysis are extracted from the Urban Atlas developed by the European Environmental Agency in addition to the UN-Habitat annual report. All calculations, analyses, and deductions are exclusively carried by the author.

The Effects of Patent Extension and Take-Back Regulation on Green Pharmacy

Problem definition: The eco-toxicity arising from unused pharmaceuticals has regulators advocating the benign design concept of “green pharmacy,” but high research and development expenses can be prohibitive. We therefore examine the impacts of two regulatory mechanisms, patent extension and take-back regulation, on inducing drug manufacturers to go green. Academic/practical relevance: One incentive suggested by the European Environmental Agency is a patent extension for a company that redesigns its already patented pharmaceutical to be more environmentally friendly. This incentive can encourage both the development of degradable drugs and the disclosure of technical information. Yet, it is unclear how effective the extension would be in inducing green pharmacy and in maximizing social welfare. Methodology: We develop a game-theoretic model in which an innovative company collects monopoly profits for a patented pharmaceutical but faces competition from a generic rival after the patent expires. A social-welfare-maximizing regulator is the Stackelberg leader. The regulator leads by offering a patent extension to the innovative company while also imposing take-back regulation on the pharmaceutical industry. Then the two-profit maximizing companies respond by setting drug prices and choosing whether to invest in green pharmacy. Results: The regulator’s optimal patent extension offer can induce green pharmacy but only if the offer exceeds a threshold length that depends on the degree of product differentiation present in the pharmaceutical industry. The regulator’s correspondingly optimal take-back regulation generally prescribes a required collection rate that decreases as its optimal patent extension offer increases, and vice versa. Managerial implications: By isolating green pharmacy as a potential target to address pharmaceutical eco-toxicity at its source, the regulatory policy that we consider, which combines the incentive inherent in earning a patent extension on the one hand with the penalty inherent in complying with take-back regulation on the other hand, serves as a useful starting point for policymakers to optimally balance economic welfare considerations with environmental stewardship considerations.

Influence of Krakow Winter and Summer Dusts on the Redox Cycling of Vitamin B12a in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid

Air pollution remains a serious problem in Krakow, Poland. According to the European Environmental Agency, annual mean levels of both PM2.5 and PM10 recorded in Krakow are much higher than EU limit values. Thus, the influence of particulate matter (PM) on the function of living organisms, as well as different physiological processes, is an urgent subject to be studied. The reported research forms part of the multi-disciplinary project ‘Air Pollution versus Autoimmunity: Role of multiphase aqueous Inorganic Chemistry,’ which aims to demonstrate the PM effect on the immune system. The present studies focused on the role of dust collected in Krakow on the redox cycling of vitamin B12a in the presence of ascorbic acid. Dust samples collected during the winter 2019/2020 and summer 2020 months in the city center of Krakow were characterized using various analytical techniques. The influence of Krakow dusts on the kinetics of the reaction between nitrocobalamin and ascorbic acid was confirmed and discussed in terms of the composition of the samples. Possible reasons for the reported findings are provided.

Diversity of EU habitat types is correlated with geography more than climate and human pressure

Aims: Habitat richness, i.e. the diversity of ecosystem types, is a complex, spatially explicit aspect of biodiversity, which is affected by bioclimatic, geographic and anthropogenic variables. The distribution of habitat types is a key component for understanding broad-scale biodiversity and for developing conservation strategies. To test which factors are related with habitat richness we used EU habitat distribution data to answer the following questions: i) how do bioclimatic, geographic, and anthropogenic variables affect habitat richness? ii) which category is the most important? iii) how do interactions among these variables influence habitat richness and which combinations produce the strongest interactions? Study area: European Union (excluding Greece) plus the United Kingdom. Methods: We used the distribution maps of 233 terrestrial habitat types defined by the European Environmental Agency, to calculate habitat richness for the EU 10 km x 10 km grid map. We then investigated how environmental variables affect habitat richness, using generalized linear models, generalized additive models and boosted regression trees. Results: The main factors associated with habitat richness were geographic variables, with negative relationships observed for both latitude and longitude, and a positive relationship for terrain ruggedness. Bioclimatic variables played a secondary role, with habitat richness increasing slightly with annual mean temperature and overall annual precipitation. An interaction between anthropogenic variables was important: the combination of increased landscape fragmentation and increased population density strongly decreased habitat richness. Main conclusions: This is the first attempt to disentangle spatial patterns of habitat richness at the continental scale, as a key tool for protecting biodiversity. The diversity of European habitats is correlated withgeography more than climate and human pressure, reflecting a major component of biogeographical patterns similar to the drivers observed at the species level. The interaction between anthropogenic variables highlights the need for coordinated, continental-scale management plans for biodiversity conservation.

Methodological Framework for the Quantification of GHG Emission Reductions from Climate Change Mitigation Actions

The quantification of the effect of climate change mitigation actions is a very useful exercise that can be used to meet a variety of objectives, such as informing policy design, enhancing policy implementation, assessing policy effectiveness, justifying budget allocation, and attracting climate finance. It is also a reporting requirement according to the reporting framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation of the European Union (EU) about climate change relevant information. However, the reporting of emissions savings associated to mitigation actions by EU Member States is not complete, according to recent technical reports of the European Environmental Agency. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodological framework that can be used to quantify the effect (i.e. emission reductions) of the mitigation actions. It is based on comprehensive and transparent models and formulas that could be easily tracked and reproduced. The proposed framework could be easily applied by EU Member States, but also by other non-EU countries, to enhance the reporting of climate change related information to European Commission and UN bodies. By applying the methodological framework for Greece, as a case study, it was possible to estimate the effect of implemented policies and measures for historical years (ex-post analysis), but also to estimate the projected effect (ex-ante analysis) of implemented, adopted and planned policies for future years (e.g. 2030).

Understanding the expansion of Italian metropolitan areas: A study based on entropy measures

This work presents a study on the urban configuration of a number of Italian metropolitan areas and their development over time, with the aim of evaluating the size and shape of urban areas expansion. Raster data are used, produced by the European Environmental Agency within the COoRdination of INformation on the Environment land cover project. The study is based on a version of spatial entropy measures proposed and validated by a recent series of papers, aimed at the evaluation of spatial data heterogeneity; the methods assess the efficiency of the spatial configuration of urban areas. An innovative combination of two entropy measures is the tool for evaluating the urban development in Italy. Results allow both conclusive comments about each metropolitan area and comparisons across areas over space and time.

Application of DPSIR method for integrated management of the transboundary aquifer in Prespa-Ohrid basin

<p>The transboundary aquifers are of utmost importance to sustain water supply in present days. The exploitation of these aquifers has to be only in a sustainable and rational way, in order to sustain the quantity and quality of the aquifers' groundwater. A transboundary aquifer is developed in karstified limestones between the lakes Great Prespa (shared between North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece ) and Ohrid (shared between North Macedonia and Albania). The karst mountainous area is characterized by the presence of numerous crevices, sinkholes, as surface forms, and caves, canals, etc., as underground forms. The elevation of Prespa Lake is about 153 m higher than that of Ohrid Lake, and the two lakes represent a common hydraulic system, protected by international conventions. Prespa Lake is characterized by a continuous decline in water level during the last decades. The transboundary karstic aquifer is a complex system, discharging through numerous karstic springs (e.g., Saint Naum, Tushemisht, etc.), and operating as a hydrocollector and hydroconductor between the lakes. The aquifer is vulnerable to external pollution, as well as to climate changes affecting the lakes’ ecosystems. Agriculture, livestock, and tourism are the main activities in the wider area.</p><p>The DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) model, adopted by European Environmental Agency, was applied in GIS context, in order to study and analyze the main causes of pressures and to optimize the measures for integrated aquifer management. In addition, the aim of DPSIR technique is the correlation of the driving forces and pressures with the present status of the complex hydraulic system and finally to optimize the aquifer management. The major driving forces that affect the Prespa-Ohrid basin are the irrigated agriculture, the livestock, the tourism development, and population growth. The main pressures are the overexploitation of the aquifer, water pollution, and the decline of the water level of Lake Prespa.</p><p>Based on the results of DPSIR, a set of measures and appropriate policy responses are proposed. Finally, DPSIR is a valuable tool for local authorities and administrators in order to plan and implement strategies for integrated and sustainable management of the transboundary karst aquifer and its dependent ecosystems.</p>

Impact of biochar amendment on soil organic matter composition in a heavy-metals polluted soil

<p>It is estimated that over 37 % of degraded soils in the European Union are polluted by heavy metals [1], which are non-biodegradable and persistent pollutants in soils. The application of organic amendments to soils for their remediation has been worldwide used [2]. Several studies have shown that biochar, the carbonaceous material produced by pyrolysis of organic residues, has a high potential to stabilize trace elements in soils [3]. Biochars usually have an alkaline pH and high water holding capacity (WHC), large specific surface area and cation exchange capacity, which are appropriate characteristics to reduce the availability of heavy metals in the environment [4]. Nevertheless, recent studies exhibited that biochar recalcitrance could be much lower than assumed [5].  Beside this, the effects of the addition of biochar as a soil amendment on the composition of soil organic matter (SOM) are largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the application of biochars from rice husk (RHB) and olive pit (OPB) in a Typic Xerofluvent polluted with trace-elements after 24 months at field in 12 plots installed at the surroundings of the Guadiamar Green Corridor (37° 23' 7.152"N, 6° 13' 43.175"; Southwest Spain). Specifically, for this study the effects of biochar amendment on soil physical properties (pH, water holding capacity-WHC, moisture, etc), elemental composition, total SOM, the content of oxidizable SOM as well as the content and composition of humic acids (HAs) have been assessed.</p><p>Biochar application caused an increase in soil pH (around 0.4 units), soil moisture (from 6-7% to 10-18 %) and WHC. In addition, the total organic carbon and HAs content increased slightly. Preliminary results show that biochar could become part of the humified SOM in a shorter time than initially expected. Nevertheless, the spectroscopic analyses (FT-IR and <sup>13</sup>C NMR spectroscopy) documented that the qualitative composition of soil HAs was not altered due to the biochar amendment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><em>References</em>:</p><p>[1] EEA; 2007. CSI 015. Copenhagen, Denmark: European Environmental Agency.</p><p>[2] Madejón, E.; Pérez de Mora, A.; Burgos, P.; Cabrera, F.; 2006. Environ. Pollut. 139, 40-52.</p><p>[3] Campos, P., De la Rosa, J.M., 2020. Sustainability 12, 6025.Uchimiya, M.; Klasson, K.T.; Wartelle, L.H.; Lima, I.M.; 2011. Chemosphere 82, 1438-1447.</p><p>[4] Campos, P., Miller, A.Z., Knicker, H., Costa-Pereira, M.F., Merino, A., De la Rosa, J.M., 2020. Waste Manag. 105, 256-267.</p><p>[5] De la Rosa, J.M.; Rosado, M.; Paneque, M.; Miller, A.Z.; Knicker, H.; 2018. Sci. Tot Environ. 613-614, 969-976.</p><p><em>Acknowledgements</em>: The Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINEICO), CSIC and AEI/FEDER are thanked for funding the project CGL2016-76498-R. P. Campos thanks the “Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno” for funding her PhD.</p>

The On-Line Integrated Mesoscale Chemistry Model BOLCHEM

This work presents the on-line coupled meteorology–chemistry transport model BOLCHEM, based on the hydrostatic meteorological BOLAM model, the gas chemistry module SAPRC90, and the aerosol dynamic module AERO3. It includes parameterizations to describe natural source emissions, dry and wet removal processes, as well as the transport and dispersion of air pollutants. The equations for different processes are solved on the same grid during the same integration step, by means of a time-split scheme. This paper describes the model and its performance at horizontal resolution of 0.2∘× 0.2∘ over Europe and 0.1∘× 0.1∘ in a nested configuration over Italy, for one year run (December 2009–November 2010). The model has been evaluated against the AIRBASE data of the European Environmental Agency. The basic statistics for higher resolution simulations of O3, NO2 and particulate matter concentrations (PM2.5 and PM10) have been compared with those from Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) ensemble median. In summer, for O3 we found a correlation coefficient R of 0.72 and mean bias of 2.15 over European domain and a correlation coefficient R of 0.67 and mean bias of 2.36 over Italian domain. PM10 and PM2.5 are better reproduced in the winter, the latter with a correlation coefficient R of 0.66 and the mean bias MB of 0.35 over Italian domain.